Kelly vows he won't be Patriots' weak link

At the age of 33 and coming off a major knee injury, defensive tackle Tommy Kelly says he is attempting to come back better than ever. Kelly was performing at a high level in 2013, his first season in New England, when he went down with a torn ACL five games into the 2013 season.

Some have suggested that he is danger of sliding down the depth chart.

Others have gone so far as to speculate that he is in danger of sliding off the 53-man roster altogether.

Coming off a severe knee injury (a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered in Week 5 of the Patriots’ 2013 season) and playing at an advanced age (he’ll turn 34 in December), Tommy Kelly will have none of that.

“You don’t want anyone out there to think you’re a weak link,” the 6-foot-6, 310-pound defensive tackle said following a recent training camp practice. “I’ve never been a weak link in my career and I’m not going to start being a weak link.

“I’ve been working my tail off on the side with my conditioning so I make sure when it’s time for me to get out there they see the same player as when I left. Or a better player – that’s what I’m shooting for. I’m not trying to come back and be the player I was, I’m trying to come back and be a better player than I was.”

He is well aware of the ramifications.

“This is a very hard team to make, so if you don’t go out and put it on the line every day you’re not going to be here,” said Kelly. “Simple as that.”

If there are odds to be beaten here, well, Kelly has beaten them before.

Undrafted out of Mississippi State, Kelly signed with Oakland on April 30, 2004, and went on to appear in 129 games (starting 117) over nine seasons with the Raiders, totaling 419 tackles and 34 sacks in that time.

Released by the Raiders on March 27 of last year, Kelly signed with the Patriots two weeks later.

If Kelly is aging, he certainly didn’t show it at the outset of his abbreviated first year in New England.

Starting alongside Vince Wilfork (until he suffered a season-ending Achilles tear in Week 4), Kelly totaled 23 tackles, 21/2 sacks and recovered one fumble prior to tearing the ACL in his right knee in the Patriots’ 13-6 loss at Cincinnati last Oct. 6.

Now, he finds himself on the comeback trail

Kelly began camp on the physically unable to perform list, but he was quickly activated and looked none the worst for wear this past week.

As Kelly points out, he’s been through it all before – albeit while still in his 20s.

“I’ve been here before – back in ’07 when I blew my knee out the first time (seven games into that season),” said Kelly. “I’ve been down that dark road and I know how it feels, how you doubt yourself. But I also know if you work your tail off every day it’s going to come back.

Page 2 of 2 - “You just have to keep stacking and every day don’t get discouraged, don’t get too high or too low. Just come in there and work your butt off and your knee is going to be fine.”

While the Patriots’ defensive line is densely populated at the moment – the team is currently carrying 15 linemen, including young holdovers like Sealver Siliga, Chris Jones and Joe Vellano, all of whom got the opportunity to start and play last season – Kelly remains confident in his ability.

“Me personally, I’m never worried about competition,” said Kelly. “I love competition, you know what I’m saying? You don’t ever worry about what’s behind you. You worry about what’s in front of you.

“I’ve always been very confident in myself … I just go out there and play. If I let my talent take over I’ll be OK.”

Glen Farley may be reached at gfarley@enterprisenews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @GFarley_ent.